Vetiver, Larkin Grimm, and John Houx

March 31, 2009
by
1 min read

by Jack Diablo
Freak-folk outfit, Vetiver, stopped by Cafe Eleven on March 23 to play a show with Larkin Grimm and John Houx. Fresh off of their appearance at the SXSW Music and Media Conference in Austin, TX, St. Augustine was one of only two stops the group made in Florida.
Baby-faced John Houx kicked off the evening with his brand new green acoustic guitar and bare feet playing Dylan-esque folk ditties. Hailing from Northern California via New York City, this old soul wowed the crowd with his timeless songs about everything from poison apples to the woes of living in this generation. Drawing poignant contrasts between the socially-conscious hippies of the 1960s and the fashionably unaware hipsters of today, Houx lamented that these days, “it’s cooler not to care.” Listening to him strum his guitar and tell the stories behind his music was the perfect start to what would be an amazing night of great music.
Next up was the striking and strangely beautiful Larkin Grimm. With a mouth that could swallow the moon and pipes fit for the opera, Grimm belted out haunting melodies like a folkier Feist. During her songs she lulled the audience, all seated on the concrete floor, into a dreamlike trance but filled the spaces between with her strange but humorous wit. She spoke of her mistrust of cats, her time training to be a Sufi in Switzerland, and her theories on a secret planet where orgasms come from. With a dulcimer in her lap she could have fit in just as easily at a Renaissance Fair as a Florida bar. On guitar she was joined by a violin and yet another dulcimer (played by the aforementioned Houx) to create an ethereal gospel that explored the primordial nature of music.
After sitting through the first two acts, the crowd rose to welcome Vetiver to the stage. Their jams flirted with the psychedelic as we all swayed in time. Although I wouldn’t have thought to compare frontman Andy Cabic’s songs to that of Devendra Banhart, the influence of the one-time collaborator was present. At one point, the band commented on how much more attentive an audience we were than the Orlando crowd. Whatever it was that permeated the air that night was contagious and palpable, creating an altogether intoxicating evening of mellow yet engaging entertainment.
Cafe Eleven is quickly becoming one of my favorite local venues to catch a live show. They offer an amazing list of $3 drafts on concert nights and serve really great food to boot. With great booking, their shows almost always sell out and are far enough in between to leave people hungry for the next one. Combine that with exceptional sound and lights, a clean smoke-free atmosphere, great people and you have all the makings of a successful venue that never ceases to please.

Folio is your guide to entertainment and culture around and near Jacksonville, Florida. We cover events, concerts, restaurants, theatre, sports, art, happenings, and all things about living and visiting Jax. Folio serves more than two million readers across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, including St. Augustine, The Beaches, and Fernandina.

Current Issue

SUBMIT EVENTS

Submit Events

Advertisements

An Evening with Jason Isbell
The Amp
Collision Homecoming
JWJ Park Events
omaha-steaks-banners

Date

Title

Current Month

Follow FOLIO!

Previous Story

O'Keeffe!

Next Story

the luster of the blues

Latest from Music

RIVERDANCE is 30 years young

Riverdance 30 – The New Generation is not only bringing new choreography to the show, but it is also introducing a new generation of dancers, none of whom were born when Riverdance first took to the stage 30 years ago.  Emissaries for the show, Irish siblings Anna Mai and Fergus

Empty Register: The Band That Spans Across City Lines

Words and Photos by Amiyah Golden  A couple months back, I was enjoying a night that was filled with a variety of tunes under the Riverside Arts Market Bridge. As I watched the next group prepare for their set, the static flow of expectancy was instead disrupted by something

February New Music

Feb. 14 The Lumineers  “Automatic” It’s been three years since this popular folk-duo has released a full-length album, and fans are over the moon (it’s me) with glee as they hear the pair merge sounds again with “Automatic.”  I highly appreciate the release date falling on Valentine’s Day, as it’ll

February Concerts

Feb. 1 Beethoven & Rachmaninoff Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts jaxsymphony.org Hotel Fiction Blue Jay Listening Room bluejayjax.com Tape B Decca Live deccalive.com Seventh Day Slumber & more Murray Hill Theatre murrayhilltheatre.com Black Drum Reunion Underbelly underbellyjax.com Feb. 2 A1A: Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show

Best Local Musician: Vince Jones

Vince Jones, a standout member of the “Folio” award-winning band Blistur, is now a two-time winner of Best Local Musician. With over 30 years of experience and more than 100 shows under his belt, Vince’s musical prowess speaks for itself.
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp

Don't Miss

The Avett Brothers

November 15 The Avett Brothers St. Augustine Amphitheatre (904) 471-1965

Paula Poundstone

Paula Poundstone “Twitter is the postcards in my head.” It’s